How much attention do you pay to the LJ webcam? - Kayak Fishing Adventures on Big Water’s Edge

YakDout · 01-20-2016, 04:08 AM

Cam doesnt convince me of going one way or the other. And most surf forecasts are a joke too. Surfline is the least inaccurate from what I have noticed. Ill give you an example: Magic Sea Weed is garbage for our launch. The wave height is for the pier. Said 5-8ft for last sunday when I went out, high surf advisories all over the place, and the waves at the launch were less than 2. I would say on any given day, launching la jolla shores is pretty cake. Once in a blue moon we get a certain direction swell that hits la jolla shores, but ive gone through 4-5 on my outback and as long as you time it, leash everything down just in case, you will be ok. Wouldnt ever stop me from fishing a hot bite. Ive never been to the launch and turned around to fish elsewhere or go home.

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Murray · 01-20-2016, 06:47 AM

You must be a young guy. I am spoiled and old so only pick primo days to go. Ha!

Quote:

Originally Posted by YakDout

Cam doesnt convince me of going one way or the other. And most surf forecasts are a joke too. Surfline is the least inaccurate from what I have noticed. Ill give you an example: Magic Sea Weed is garbage for our launch. The wave height is for the pier. Said 5-8ft for last sunday when I went out, high surf advisories all over the place, and the waves at the launch were less than 2. I would say on any given day, launching la jolla shores is pretty cake. Once in a blue moon we get a certain direction swell that hits la jolla shores, but ive gone through 4-5 on my outback and as long as you time it, leash everything down just in case, you will be ok. Wouldnt ever stop me from fishing a hot bite. Ive never been to the launch and turned around to fish elsewhere or go home.

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ronbo613 · 01-20-2016, 06:54 AM

With a bit of experience, you can guess the immediate conditions by checking the webcam. The launch area has the smallest surf around, if the waves there are one foot, the pier is about three feet and anyplace else is probably about five feet. Big surf days at the Shores are rare. Kayakers can describe the waves there as "huge", most surfers would say 2-3'. You can tell if it's high or low tide, check the wind conditions and tell by the crowd if it's a weekend or not.

A tide book and basic marine forecast are as good as any surf forecasting websites when you learn how the ocean works.

Since I don't live in SD any longer, I check the webcam from time to time because I don't want to look out my window and see if my truck is buried in snow.

dos ballenas · 01-20-2016, 10:30 AM

I've heard that swell direction and interval are important. What are those?

Someone told me the best conditions to launch from the Shores are when there is a really short interval swell from the NW.... does that sound right?

makobob · 01-20-2016, 12:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dos ballenas

I've heard that swell direction and interval are important. What re those?

Someone told me the best conditions to launch from the Shores are when there is a really short interval swell from the NW.... does that sound right?

Someone is pulling your leg.

maquinapescado · 01-20-2016, 02:04 PM

Coming from someone who has surfed since age 5-6, I would recommend some reading on interval, bathymetry and wave height. La Jolla is unique in that it is sheltered from a lot of swell when the immediate area is relatively not. The bathymetry is pretty nil proven by the difference between a 0' tide and a 6' tide is like a 100 yard walk, not much going on there (usuallly equates to rolling crumbly waves). Growing up surfing, this is something I can asses in a matter of walking out once or watching the cam a few times from high to low tide.

In any activity, I am always blown away by how the google age has people wanting all the knowledge in the form a one liner (not insinuating you expected that). The best thing to do is to get out and get out often. You can't catch fish from your keyboard.

Good luck

surfisher · 01-20-2016, 02:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maquinapescado

Coming from someone who has surfed since age 5-6, I would recommend some reading on interval, bathymetry and wave height. La Jolla is unique in that it is sheltered from a lot of swell when the immediate area is relatively not. The bathymetry is pretty nil proven by the difference between a 0' tide and a 6' tide is like a 100 yard walk, not much going on there (usuallly equates to rolling crumbly waves). Growing up surfing, this is something I can asses in a matter of walking out once or watching the cam a few times from high to low tide.

In any activity, I am always blown away by how the google age has people wanting all the knowledge in the form a one liner (not insinuating you expected that). The best thing to do is to get out and get out often. You can't catch fish from your keyboard.

Good luck

Boom x2 ... Don't over think it. Light winds? Go fishing. Just time your launches.

Deamon · 01-20-2016, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dos ballenas

I've heard that swell direction and interval are important. What are those?

Someone told me the best conditions to launch from the Shores are when there is a really short interval swell from the NW.... does that sound right?

Ha! Coming from a guy who has a BIG ASS telescope that looks down on the shores and can see a bite from his office!!!! Jim

old_rookie · 01-21-2016, 02:10 PM

There was a time I would just go, didn't know about the camera, didn't know about the on-line surf forecasts - now I have all this data and suffer the paralysis by analysis.

maquinapescado · 01-21-2016, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by old_rookie

There was a time I would just go, didn't know about the camera, didn't know about the on-line surf forecasts - now I have all this data and suffer the paralysis by analysis.

True that. I remember I used to check the surf report in the morning paper and I am only 33 or wait, 34??? Hmmm........

There was no information technology.

01-20-2016, 06:54 AM	#3
ronbo613 Waterman At Large Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: On the Water Posts: 199	With a bit of experience, you can guess the immediate conditions by checking the webcam. The launch area has the smallest surf around, if the waves there are one foot, the pier is about three feet and anyplace else is probably about five feet. Big surf days at the Shores are rare. Kayakers can describe the waves there as "huge", most surfers would say 2-3'. You can tell if it's high or low tide, check the wind conditions and tell by the crowd if it's a weekend or not. A tide book and basic marine forecast are as good as any surf forecasting websites when you learn how the ocean works. Since I don't live in SD any longer, I check the webcam from time to time because I don't want to look out my window and see if my truck is buried in snow. __________________ Kayak Fishing Photos and Video

01-20-2016, 10:30 AM	#4
dos ballenas Vampyroteuthis infernalis Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 585	I've heard that swell direction and interval are important. What are those? Someone told me the best conditions to launch from the Shores are when there is a really short interval swell from the NW.... does that sound right? __________________ ____________________________________________ Last edited by dos ballenas; 01-20-2016 at 01:29 PM.

01-20-2016, 02:04 PM	#6
maquinapescado Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Posts: 326	Coming from someone who has surfed since age 5-6, I would recommend some reading on interval, bathymetry and wave height. La Jolla is unique in that it is sheltered from a lot of swell when the immediate area is relatively not. The bathymetry is pretty nil proven by the difference between a 0' tide and a 6' tide is like a 100 yard walk, not much going on there (usuallly equates to rolling crumbly waves). Growing up surfing, this is something I can asses in a matter of walking out once or watching the cam a few times from high to low tide. In any activity, I am always blown away by how the google age has people wanting all the knowledge in the form a one liner (not insinuating you expected that). The best thing to do is to get out and get out often. You can't catch fish from your keyboard. Good luck __________________ Climb, Surf, Fish, Repeat

01-20-2016, 04:08 AM	#1
YakDout Brandon Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: San Diego Posts: 2,345	Cam doesnt convince me of going one way or the other. And most surf forecasts are a joke too. Surfline is the least inaccurate from what I have noticed. Ill give you an example: Magic Sea Weed is garbage for our launch. The wave height is for the pier. Said 5-8ft for last sunday when I went out, high surf advisories all over the place, and the waves at the launch were less than 2. I would say on any given day, launching la jolla shores is pretty cake. Once in a blue moon we get a certain direction swell that hits la jolla shores, but ive gone through 4-5 on my outback and as long as you time it, leash everything down just in case, you will be ok. Wouldnt ever stop me from fishing a hot bite. Ive never been to the launch and turned around to fish elsewhere or go home. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

01-21-2016, 02:10 PM	#9
old_rookie Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Santee Posts: 904	There was a time I would just go, didn't know about the camera, didn't know about the on-line surf forecasts - now I have all this data and suffer the paralysis by analysis.